Hat-holder.



(Application lad Feb. 8, 1900.) l

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(No Model.)

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H AT H 0 L D E R (Application led Feb. 6, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN J. CANNAN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

HAT-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent No. 659,363, dated october 9, 1900.`

Application iled February 6,1900. Serial No. 4,210. lNo model.) I I v To all whom t may concern.' y

- Be it known that I, JOHN J. CANNAN, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Holders; and I do hereby Ydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecilication', and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to provide a holder adapted particularly to be applied to hat-boxes, cases, or to trunks for snp' porting silk hats and preventing injury thereto,although equally well adapted to'hold other styles and adjustable to accommodate various sizes thereof, and which may, if desired, be moved out of operative position when not in use, allowingthe box or casete be used for other purposes.

To these ends the invention consists in certain improvements in construction and combinations of parts, all asV will be hereinafter described, the novelfeatures being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification'.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case, partly in section, showing the operation of a holder constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation, partly in section, of vone of the holders; Fig. 3, a top plan view of the same; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification; Fig. 5, a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig.

Similai` reference-numerals in the different figures indicate similar parts.

Hat-holders constructed in accordance with my invention support the hat at each end by engaging the brim close to the crown, where it is the stiffest,'and I have shown .in the drawingsan ordinary form of case 1, adapted to contain a single hat 2. The holders embody a base 3,.having the lower and normallystationary arm 4, provided with the' broad curved plate 5 on its extremity, lupon which the brim 6 of the'h'at rests, and the movable arm 7, arranged above the former, pivoted to the base at 8 and having the plate 9, adapted to coperate with the plate 5 to engage the upper side of the brim. Both of these plates 5 and 9 are provided with a covering 10, of plush or velvet or other soft material or padding, the lower stationary plate being inclined somewhat atan angle and the 'upper one 5 being loosely'connected to the' arm 7 by a pin 1l, passing through ears or lugs 12 and the ear 13 on the plate.r The ear 13 is tapered slightly toward Iits upper edge and fitting loosely between the former allows the plate to tilt, fitting closely upon the hatbriin at whatever angle the latter may be. In the rear of the pivot 8 the lupper arm 7 Y is provided with an angular face or cam-surface 14, against which bears a spring 15, rig idly connected at its lower end to the base 3. This construction permits the upper arms to be turned upon their pivots into a vertical position when it is desired to insert or remove the hat, and the springs bearing against the faces 14 hold the arms firmly in operative position upon the hat-brim when they are closed. y

If the holders are to be used in single-hat cases, they maybe secured tothe sides of the case by means of a bolt 16 and thumb-screw 17, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. Any lateral adjustment vthat is necessary to accommodate hats of various sizes may be permitted by forming horizontal slots in the side `of the casing through which the'screws 17 are passed,'as will be understood.

18 indicates a point or stud formed on the rear side of the base 3 of the holder just described, adapted to engagethe casing and assist in securing the holder, preventing rotary movement thereof.

Another'form of-the device and one which y is intended more particularly to be used in' hat-boxes in trunks or similar places which it is often desirable to use for-other purposes consists of an addition t0 the holder heretoffore described whereby the gripping-arms IOO to the swinging base 3 and the other to the stationary base 20. The tension of the spring is increased when the arms are revolved to the side of the receptacle, as shown in dotted lines iu Fig. 3, and serves to return them to the normal projecting position. An adjustable screw 2G, threaded into one side of the base 3 and operatingagainst a post 27, forms an adjustable stop i'or limiting the outward movement ot' the arms, pertnitting their adjustment for hats of various sizes. Arranged upon the inner surface of the base-plate 20 and projecting slightly above the top thereof is a small leaf-spring 28, forming a catch adapted to engage in a notch 29, formed in the side of the ttpper ltlg 23, to hold the arms when rotated toward the side against the tension of the spring 25. By a slight pressure of the finger against the projecting end of the spring-catch the frame will be released and the engaging arms moved into the normal position by the spring 25.

I have shown the holders engaging the opposite ends of the hat attached to opposite sides of the case or receptacle, as in this way a single style of holder operating in one direction may be utilized; but it will be readily understood that they might be made to turn in opposite directions and both applied to the same side ofthe case, one folding over the other when not in use.

Holders such as I have described are simplein construction and operation. The broad padded supporting-plates upon the lower stationary arms engaging the brim at the ends of the hat close to the crown and the springoperated arms having the eoperating padded plates resting upon the upper side of the brim hold the hat firmly, preventing any abrasion or other injury to its surface. The devices may be applied to the trays of samplehat trunks, and by reason of their compactness the space may be greatly economized as, for instance, hats with rounding crowns may be arranged to rest one in the other and each supported upon a separate pair of holders, or in carrying ladies hats they may be supported separately and prevented from contact either with the surrounding casing or adjacent articles.

I claim as my inventionl. In a hat-holder, the combination with a base, the stationary arms thereon having the narrow plates upon their extremities adapted to support the hat-brim at its ends, of the movable arms pivoted to the base and having the narrow plates upon their outer ends adapted to engage the brim directly opposite the supporting-plates, the shoulders on the arms in rear of the pivots, and the springs operating against the shoulders to hold the arms in the operative position.

2. In a hat-holder, the combination with a base-plate adapted to be mounted upon a stationary support, of the holding-arms relatively movable toward and from each other, pivotally connected to the base to swing together thereon, means for arranging the arms,

and a stop for limiting their outward movemerit.

3. In a hat-holder, the combination with a base-plate mounted upon a stationary support, of a plate pivoted to the support to turn thereon having the stationary arm and the eoperating movable arm, means for turning the plate on its pivot with the arms extended, and an adjustable stop for limiting its outward movements.

4. In a hat-holder, the combination with a base-plate, the coperating arms having the narrow plates thereon adapted to engage u pon the opposite sides of a hat-brim, said arms being connected upon their inner ends, of a pivotal connection between the arms and the base, a stop for limiting their outward movement, and a catch for retaining the arms when moved out of operative position.

5. In a hat-holder, the combination with a base-plate, the arms engaging opposite sides ol the hat-brim and connected upon the ends, of the pivotal connection between the arms and the base, a spring-catch for retaining the arms when the latter have been moved ou t of operative position, spring connections forextending the arms when the catch is released, and an adjustable stop for limiting their outward movement.

6. In a hat-holder, the combination with a base having the stationary arm provided with a hat-support, a movable arm cooperating with the support, and means for holding the latter in operative position,of a stationary support,a pivotal connection between the support and the base, means for holding the arms extended, a stop for limiting their outward movement,andaretainingdevice operating to hold the arms when moved out of operative position.

7. In a device for holding hats adapted to support a hat by engaging its brim at opposite ends, the combination with a supporthaving the brackets, of the base having the engaging arms, and the brackets pivotally connected to the support, the spring-catch on the latter engaging the base to retain the arms when moved out of the operative position, a. yielding connection between the base and support holding the arms in operative position, and an adjustable stop for limiting their movement in one direction.

8. In a hat-holder, the combination with a base having the stationary arm provided with a hat-support, a movable arm pivoted to the base and cooperating with the support, the shoulder on lthe end ofsaid arm, and the spring attached to the base and bearing thereon, of the stationary support, pivotal connections between it and the base, a spring-catch for retaining the arms when moved out of the operative position, spring connections between the support and the base for returning the latter to the normal position, and an adjustable stop for limiting the outward movement of the arms. t

9. In a hat-holder,the combination with the lOO IXO

to said arm for engaging flatly against one side of the hat-brim, and a movable arm havv ing a correspondingly-narrow plate loosely7 mounted upon its end and adapted to engage the other side of' the hat-brim.

l l. The combination with `a stationary support, of two holders for coperating with opposite ends of a hat, each embodying a stationary arm mounted upon a base secured to the support, and a narrow plate thereon for engaging one side of a hat-brim, and-a movable arm pivoted to said base and having the loosely-pivoted plate thereon for coperating with the other side of the brim, and means for pressing the arms together. Y

l2. In a hat-holder, thecombination with the stationary arm mounted upon a base having the narrow plate at its end adapted to engage a hat-brim, of a movable opposing arm pivoted to said base havinga narrow plate adapted to engage the opposite side of a hatbrim, one of said plates being inclined and 'the other having a pivotal connection with its arm whereby it may engage atly against the brim,\and means for holding the plates together with a hat-.brim between them.

13. In a hat-holder, the combination with a support, the relativelymovable arms connected .to a base and mounted on the support, each having the narrow curved plates at their ends for engaging opposite sides of a hat-brim, one of said plates being slightly inclined and the other movable relative its supporting-arm to engage iatly against the brim, and means for holding the arms in engagement with opposite sides of a hat-brim.

114. The combination with astationary support, of the armsthereon adapted to engage y one side of a hat-brim upon opposite sides of the crown, engaging members resting upon the opposite side'of the brim above the stationary arms, movable connect-ions between the' members upon one side of the hat-brim andthe support, and means upon the latter for holding saidA members in engagement with the hat-brim,

15. The combination with a stationary' support or receptacle having the elongated apertures in its sides, the holders arranged upon opposite sides of the crown of the hat ernbodying a base provided with the stationary arm having the narrow plate at its end, the movable arm pivoted on the base, and the narrow plate loosely mounted on said arm coperating with the former plate to engage a hat-brim between them, of the bolts extending through the aperture and engaging each holder, whereby7 the latter may be adjusted relatively.

16. In a hat-receptacle having the elongated apertures in its sides, the combination with a hat-holder adapted to be arranged vupon'opposite sides of the crown of the hat embodying a base-plate, coperating arms having the narrow plates thereon adapted to engage upon the opposite sides of a hat-brim connected together upon their inner ends, pivoted connections between the arms and the base, and a stop for limiting their out-A JOHN J. CANNAN.

Witnesses:

F. F. CHURCH, G. WILLARD RICH. 

